Williamstown thumps Grant County in JV clash

As a player at Grant County High School Dustin Plunkett won many big games for the Braves inside their gymnasium.

On Dec. 8, Plunkett won one more, but this time he did so as the junior varsity coach for the Williamstown Demons.

Plunkett watched his team build a 29-23 halftime edge and completely run past the Braves en route to netting a 63-42 victory.

"It was definitely a different feeling going in as a coach instead of a player and going in with Williamstown instead of Grant County," said Plunkett, who watched his team improve to 3-2 on the season.

The third quarter couldn't have gotten off to a rougher start for Grant County as Williamstown's Dustin Bryant was fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer, making two of the three free throws to extend the Demons' lead to 31-23.

"It was nice to get the win, but I wish we could've gotten the varsity win. It's just nice to beat a team. We played team basketball, shot well and played good defense," Bryant said.

Grant County's Lucas Sharp and Adam Prince would both come up with baskets, but free throws down the stretch by Patrick Spoonamore and Bryant gave Williamstown a commanding 41-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Kody Thompson opened the final quarter with a basket for the Braves, but the hope of getting back into the game was short-lived as Williamstown's Josh Jump, Spoonamore, Bryant and Eric White all helped push the Demons' advantage to 53-35 midway through the quarter.

"It is amazing. We played pumped up, played as a team and we knocked down some big shots," Spoonamore said.

Wes Philpot led the way with 20 points for the Demons.

"It was nice to get the win. I just wanted to win, and I want to thank my teammates. I couldn't have scored if they didn't pass it to me," Philpot said.

Bryant said that his team followed the game plan as well as they could have.

"I told the kids that we had to keep Grant County out of what they wanted to do defensively and we had to box out, and we did that. They performed really well," the first-year coach said.

In addition to Philpot's 20 points, Williamstown got 17 from Spoonamore and nine from Bryant in the victory.

"I had my time and now it is their time. It is nice to get the win because it is for the kids, and that is what truly matters. It's all about them," Plunkett said.